Using the Air Quality Index In Emergency Events Such As Fires CARPA Summit October 15-16 2008...

Using the Air Quality Index In Using the Air Quality Index In Emergency Events Emergency Events

Such As FiresSuch As Fires

CARPA SummitCARPA SummitOctober 15-16 2008 October 15-16 2008

Sacramento CASacramento CA

Susan Lyon StoneSusan Lyon StoneUS EPA Human Studies Division US EPA Human Studies Division

[email protected]@epa.gov

http://www.epa.gov/

Air Quality Index (AQI)Air Quality Index (AQI)

• Daily information about air quality Daily information about air quality and health risks, if anyand health risks, if any

• Normalized scale (0 – 500), the Normalized scale (0 – 500), the higher the value the greater the higher the value the greater the health riskhealth risk

• Four common pollutants: OFour common pollutants: O33; PM; ; PM; SOSO22 and CO and CO

• Based on the health information Based on the health information from the review of the national from the review of the national ambient air quality standards ambient air quality standards (NAAQS)(NAAQS)

• Available through national and local Available through national and local mediamedia

Health Effects AssessmentHealth Effects Assessment

• Types of studiesTypes of studies– Epidemiology/FieldEpidemiology/Field

• Real-world exposures, including sensitive groupsReal-world exposures, including sensitive groups• Serious and chronic effects assessedSerious and chronic effects assessed• Confounders not controlledConfounders not controlled

– Controlled human exposureControlled human exposure• Exposures and confounders controlledExposures and confounders controlled• Healthy subjects; few members of sensitive Healthy subjects; few members of sensitive

groupsgroups

– AnimalAnimal• Exposures and confounders controlledExposures and confounders controlled• Extrapolation to humans; high dose exposuresExtrapolation to humans; high dose exposures

• Consistency and coherence of dataConsistency and coherence of data

““Pyramid of Effects”Pyramid of Effects”““Pyramid of Effects”Pyramid of Effects”

Proportion of Population AffectedProportion of Population Affected Proportion of Population AffectedProportion of Population Affected

• Consistent and coherent effects seen across a wide range of health outcomes

• Sensitive groups for PM include:– People with heart or

lung disease– Older adults– Children

• Consistent and coherent effects seen across a wide range of health outcomes

• Sensitive groups for PM include:– People with heart or

lung disease– Older adults– Children

Ad

versity of E

ffectsA

dversity o

f Effects

Human LungHuman Lung

• Air conductingAir conducting– TracheaTrachea– BronchiBronchi– BronchioleBronchiole

• Gas exchangeGas exchange– Respiratory Respiratory

bronchiolebronchiole– AlveoliAlveoli

Particulate Matter Affects the LungsParticulate Matter Affects the Lungs

You are exposed to particles simply by You are exposed to particles simply by breathing polluted airbreathing polluted air

Exposure increases when you exercise, Exposure increases when you exercise, because you breathe more vigorously because you breathe more vigorously and deeply than usualand deeply than usual

Respiratory effects include:Respiratory effects include:• Airway irritationAirway irritation

• CoughCough

• PhlegmPhlegm

• Decreased lung functionDecreased lung function

• Airway inflammationAirway inflammation

• Asthma attacksAsthma attacks

• Bronchitis and chronic bronchitisBronchitis and chronic bronchitis

And ParticulateAnd Particulate Matter Matter Affects the Heart Affects the Heart

Particles have been linked to changes that indicate your heart isn’t as healthy as it should be. These include:

• Arrhythmias and changes in heart rate

• Changes in the variability of your heart rate

• Blood component changes•C-reactive protein

•Fibrinogen

•Plasma viscosity

• Changes in vascular endothelial function

• Studies indicate that particle exposure can cause heart attacks

• Particles are linked with death from heart disease

Particle exposure Particle exposure can cause heart attackscan cause heart attacks..

It’s a Public Health ConcernIt’s a Public Health Concern

• When particles aggravate heart and lung diseases that means increases in:

Hospital admissions Doctor and emergency room visits Medication use Absences from work or school

• Particulate matter is linked to significant public health risks – including premature death from heart and lung disease.

• Sensitive groups include: people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children

PM Can Cause Effects in Healthy PeoplePM Can Cause Effects in Healthy People

*

*

SDNN PNN50 LF HF Total Ratio0

1

2

3

4

Air

CAPS

Rat

io C

AP

S /

Pre

**

*

2.9 47.2 107.8 206.70

50

100

150

PM

Ns

(x

10

,00

0)

Average CAPS Concentration (/m3)

Devlin et al., 2003Devlin et al., 2003Ghio et al., 2003Ghio et al., 2003

Air Quality IndexAir Quality IndexDescriptors Cautionary Statements

Good 0 – 50

No message

Moderate 51 – 100

Unusually sensitive individuals

USG101 - 150

Identifiable groups at risk - different groups for different pollutants

Unhealthy151 - 200

General public at risk; sensitive groups at greater risk

Very Unhealthy201 - 300

General public at greater risk; sensitive groups at greatest risk

Hazardous301 - 500

Health warnings of emergency conditions

NAAQSNAAQS

Use AQI to Reduce RiskUse AQI to Reduce RiskDose = Concentration x Ventilation Rate x Time• Reduce these factors to reduce dose• Pay attention to symptoms• People with asthma – follow asthma action plan• Coaches – rotate players frequently• People with heart disease

– Check with your doctor– Don’t exercise near busy roads

Dose = Concentration x Ventilation Rate x Time• Reduce these factors to reduce dose• Pay attention to symptoms• People with asthma – follow asthma action plan• Coaches – rotate players frequently• People with heart disease

– Check with your doctor– Don’t exercise near busy roads

• Revised July 2008Revised July 2008• Multi-agency Multi-agency

collaborationcollaboration- CA Department of Public CA Department of Public Health Health

- Office of Environmental Office of Environmental Health Hazard AssessmentHealth Hazard Assessment

- Air Resources BoardAir Resources Board- Missoula County Missoula County Department of HealthDepartment of Health

- US Environmental US Environmental Protection AgencyProtection Agency

Sections on:Sections on:

Composition and Composition and characteristics of smokecharacteristics of smoke

Health Effects and Health Effects and sensitive populationssensitive populations

Strategies to reduce Strategies to reduce exposureexposure

Estimating PM levelsEstimating PM levels

Recommendations for Recommendations for public health actionspublic health actions

Strategies for Reducing ExposureStrategies for Reducing Exposure

• Stay indoorsStay indoors• Reduce activityReduce activity• Indoor airIndoor air

– Reducing indoor sources of Reducing indoor sources of pollutionpollution

– Using air conditioners and Using air conditioners and room air cleanersroom air cleaners

– Creating a clean roomCreating a clean room

– Avoiding ozone generatorsAvoiding ozone generators

– Using humidifiersUsing humidifiers

• Inside vehiclesInside vehicles• Respiratory protectionRespiratory protection• Cleaner air sheltersCleaner air shelters• ClosuresClosures• EvacuationEvacuation

• New section on use of New section on use of disposable respirators – disposable respirators – from California DPHfrom California DPH

• These should not be These should not be used to increase time used to increase time outdoorsoutdoors

• Includes instructions on Includes instructions on mask choicemask choice and use

• Fact sheet for dissemination

Recommended Actions for Recommended Actions for Public Health OfficialsPublic Health Officials

• Based on AQI valuesBased on AQI values– With 3 different averaging times (i.e.,1- to 3-hour, 8- With 3 different averaging times (i.e.,1- to 3-hour, 8-

hour, and 24-hour)hour, and 24-hour)

• Actions include:Actions include:– Public service announcementsPublic service announcements– Identifying cleaner air sheltersIdentifying cleaner air shelters– Closing schools and cancelling outdoor eventsClosing schools and cancelling outdoor events– EvacuationEvacuation

• Other considerations include:Other considerations include:– Fluctuations in PMFluctuations in PM2.52.5 levels levels– Predicted duration of high PMPredicted duration of high PM2.52.5 levels levels– Potential indirect effectsPotential indirect effects

AIRNow Web sitewww.airnow.gov

Near real-time PMNear real-time PM2.52.5 AQI levels AQI levels

An Hour in the Life of an AIRNow An Hour in the Life of an AIRNow Ozone MoleculeOzone Molecule

The journey begins…..The journey begins…..

9:59:59 10:00:01

First stop: AQ AgencyFirst stop: AQ Agency

10:05:29 10:15:21

89

76

34

101

67

39 Stats:

• 1200 monitors

• 78 agencies nationwide

• Collected every hour

START_REF, 0NUMSTEPS, 24AVG_TIME, 60UNITS, PPBSTATIONS, 1342! START HOUR! ID AIRS CODE 0000 0100 0200 0300 0400 0500 0600!------------------- --------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- BEGIN_DATAST. J ,000010102, 5, 12, 7, 3, 2, 2, 7, 6, 9, 5, 6ST. J ,000010102, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, GCorne ,000010301, 13, 13, 10, 6, 5, 7, 14, 16, 18, 22Corne ,000010301, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, WELLI ,000020301,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999

OBS data file

All roads lead to the DMC…All roads lead to the DMC…START_REF, 0NUMSTEPS, 24AVG_TIME, 60UNITS, PPBSTATIONS, 1342! START HOUR! ID AIRS CODE 0000 0100 0200 0300 0400 0500 0600!------------------- --------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- BEGIN_DATAST. J ,000010102, 5, 12, 7, 3, 2, 2, 7, 6, 9, 5, 6ST. J ,000010102, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, GCorne ,000010301, 13, 13, 10, 6, 5, 7, 14, 16, 18, 22Corne ,000010301, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, WELLI ,000020301,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999START_REF, 0

NUMSTEPS, 24AVG_TIME, 60UNITS, PPBSTATIONS, 1342! START HOUR! ID AIRS CODE 0000 0100 0200 0300 0400 0500 0600!------------------- --------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- BEGIN_DATAST. J ,000010102, 5, 12, 7, 3, 2, 2, 7, 6, 9, 5, 6ST. J ,000010102, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, GCorne ,000010301, 13, 13, 10, 6, 5, 7, 14, 16, 18, 22Corne ,000010301, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, WELLI ,000020301,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999



START_REF, 0NUMSTEPS, 24AVG_TIME, 60UNITS, PPBSTATIONS, 1342! START HOUR! ID AIRS CODE 0000 0100 0200 0300 0400 0500 0600!------------------- --------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- BEGIN_DATAST. J ,000010102, 5, 12, 7, 3, 2, 2, 7, 6, 9, 5, 6ST. J ,000010102, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, GCorne ,000010301, 13, 13, 10, 6, 5, 7, 14, 16, 18, 22Corne ,000010301, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, WELLI ,000020301,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999START_REF, 0

NUMSTEPS, 24AVG_TIME, 60UNITS, PPBSTATIONS, 1342! START HOUR! ID AIRS CODE 0000 0100 0200 0300 0400 0500 0600!------------------- --------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- BEGIN_DATAST. J ,000010102, 5, 12, 7, 3, 2, 2, 7, 6, 9, 5, 6ST. J ,000010102, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, GCorne ,000010301, 13, 13, 10, 6, 5, 7, 14, 16, 18, 22Corne ,000010301, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, G, WELLI ,000020301,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999,-999



Stats:• Redundant computer servers• Files processed in seconds• Over 30,000 data values per day• 50 maps produced every hour

10:31:45

AIRNowDatabase

QualityControl

10:45:21

0101000100011110100101010101010010100111101001001010100101000001

11000100101

The last leg of the journey….The last leg of the journey….

Weather/News Providers

0101000100011110100101010101010010100111101001001010100101000001

11000100101

10:45:55 10:55:21 11:00:00

Public

Data Flow – Other Data SourcesData Flow – Other Data Sources

Wildfire ResourcesCalifornia Air Resources Board SMP Public Outreach Protocol - Tools and Materials

Wildfire Guide for Health Officials

CDC Wildfire Fact Sheet National Fire Plan

Tools for Locating Active Wildfires Near You NOAA Smoke Forecast Tool - Provides a 48-hour prediction of smoke transport and concentration using NOAA satellite information on the location of wildfires combined with NOAA National Weather Service weather forecast models. Tool is updated daily.

GEOMAC Wildland Fire Support - The Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group's internet-based mapping tool to access online maps of current fire locations.

MODIS Active Fire Mapping - USDA Forest Service Remote Sensing Applications Center's (RSAC) MODIS Active Fire Mapping web site.

Smoke PageSmoke Page

http://www.arb.ca.gov/smp/progdev/pubeduc/protocol_tools.htm

http://www.arb.ca.gov/smp/progdev/pubeduc/protocol_tools.htm

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/firesafety/wildfires/index.asp

http://www.fireplan.gov/content/home/

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/aq/

http://geomac.gov/

http://geomac.gov/

http://geomac.gov/

http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/

Graphical DisplaysGraphical Displays

Air Quality StoriesAir Quality Stories

Health InformationHealth Information

Downloadable FactsheetsDownloadable Factsheets

Draft – Available SoonDraft – Available Soon

Using the Air Quality Index In Emergency Events Such As Fires CARPA Summit October 15-16 2008...

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